The following quarter, Q3’15, saw an all-time high in funding, driven by the previously-mentioned mega-round raised by California-based Auris Surgical Robotics.

Funding dropped by almost 74% in the last quarter of 2015 on a quarter-on-quarter basis, though deal activity remained nearly the same as in Q3’15.

So far in Q1’16, funding has recovered from the slowdown in the previous quarter, but the numbers are still not on pace to equal the funding levels seen in the first three quarters of 2015.

Deal share by stage

Over 60 companies raised seed/angel funds and 20 companies raised Series A rounds over the last 5 years. Early-stage deal share dominated in all five years, except 2011, when mid-stage (Series B and C) rounds accounted for 54% of deal share.

Late-stage deal shares (Series D and E+) have been low across the years, reaching a five-year low of 6% in 2015.

The “other” category includes convertible notes, corporate minority rounds, and equity rounds not attributed to a particular stage.

Dollar share by stage

Though early-stage deals took higher deal share, late- and mid-stage rounds dominated in dollar share. Some of the highest-funded late-stage deals include a $45M Series E round raised by Liquid Robotics, a $45M Series F round raised by Sphero, and a series F round of $41M raised by 4Moms.

Intel Capital and Germany-based seed-stage investor High-Tech Grunderfonds were tied for second place. Since January 2015, the former has backed companies including Savioke, PraFly, and Ninebot, while the latter has invested in REVOBOTIK and Bionic Robotics.

Robotics (Ex-Drones): Most Active VC Investors 2011-2016(QTD)

Rank

Investor

1

Innovation Works

2

Intel Capital

2

High-Tech Grunderfonds

3

CRV

3

Visionnaire Ventures

3

Khosla Ventures

3

Two Sigma Ventures

Most well-funded robotics compainies

California-based stealth mode robotics startups, Auris Surgical Robots, is the most well-funded company on the list. Backed by investors including Lux Capital, Mithril Capital Management, NaviMed Capital, and Highland Capital Partners. Auris is developing a microsurgical robotic system for ophthalmic surgeries.